Author Spotlight
John Doe slid into his seat as the bell rang for his first day of school. His teacher pulled out her computer and began to take roll.
“Jane Doe?”
“It’s John,” he said instantly.
John has recently transitioned and hasn’t experienced any pushback from staff or peers. Little does he know, his teachers may soon be unable to legally call him by his preferred name.
A bill is currently being reviewed in the Kansas State Senate that requires teachers to use the name and pronouns on a student’s birth certificate.
His identity has been forced upon him by his state government.
And while John Doe doesn’t exist, this bill does — SB-76 was introduced to the Kansas State Senate on Jan. 27. Not only does this bill target particular students and protect transphobic teachers, but it also goes against the idea of school being a “safe” place.
In the new district strategic plan, specifically the “Belonging in SMSD” section, there are measures, starting with the bolded first line: “We will intentionally strengthen our unified, equitable, inclusive culture, to ensure belonging for all.”
If the Kansas Senate passes SB-76, all notions of belonging in schools will disappear. This plan for SMSD may as well be stripped from the handbook.
MIT Teaching and Learning Lab claims a sense of belonging at schools is “fundamental” for students to feel academic motivation. It’s psychologically fundamental for students to feel included in schools.
While this bill hasn’t passed yet, the mere idea our state legislature would propose such an incendiary bill is mind boggling. This bill will single-handedly move Kansas back in time 50 years.
According to UCLA School of Law, approximately 2,000 youth aged 13 to 17 in Kansas identify as transgender. This means 2,000 students could be misgendered and there’s nothing the school can do to make them feel safe. No matter how much the school preaches inclusion, it’ll never truly achieve it without proper legislation behind it.
Right now, the bill mentions nothing about repercussions for students or staff who decide to use preferred names or pronouns, but it’s only a matter of time before the Committee on Education discusses this topic at a meeting.
Students shouldn’t be forced to put on an identity mask to go to school. Schools should be safe places for learning and growing with your peers — not places where students must change their entire identity. Preferred names and pronouns shouldn’t be controversial.
Transgender and non-binary students are also more likely to experience resistance outside of the classroom. U.S. News reports that two-thirds of LGBTQ youth have heard their families talk negatively about their identity. School is supposed to be the one place where kids can be themselves without judgment.
It’s already hard enough to be a teenager with full course loads and ever-changing friend groups — identities shouldn’t be up for discussion.
The bill’s ambiguity could cause even more controversy. It says teachers must use the name given on the birth certificate. This means Billy who sits next to you in your science class must henceforth be known as William. No nicknames allowed in Kansas!
The state of Kansas shouldn’t regulate students’ identities. It’s been ingrained into kids’ heads since elementary school to be themselves. Schools can’t switch up their most sacred motto due to transphobia.
It’s important to acknowledge that the process of passing a bill is lengthy and most bills don’t even become law. Right now, 15 bills have been referred to the Committee on Education alone. It’s possible this bill won’t even get past the committee.
However, the suggestion that the state should be able to regulate students’ identities is harmful and outrageous. It shouldn’t even be up for discussion in the first place.
Educators and students must stand up against bill SB-76. Send letters to the representatives. Educate peers on the importance of inclusion. We can’t live in a society where our educators restrict students from expressing themselves.
Leave a Reply